ALBANY, NY – Kevin Degnan posted career-highs of 16 points and three blocks and Siena Basketball withstood a late rally to defeat Ivy League favorite Harvard 67-64 at the Times Union Center. Jalen Pickett scored 14 points and added eight assists for the Saints which snapped a five-game home losing streak dating back to last season as new head coach Jamion Christian secured a signature first win in Albany.

Sammy Friday contributed 10 points off the bench and Sloan Seymour added nine points on a trio of threes for Siena (3-5) which captured the first-ever meeting between the programs.

Justin Bassey tallied 15 points and seven rebounds and Christian Juzang contributed 10 points for Harvard (4-4) which received 12 of 18 first-place votes in the Ivy League Preseason Poll.

The Saints ended the first half on a 10-3 run to reclaim the lead for good at 27-22 at the break. Siena held the Crimson to just 36% shooting in the opening stanza in allowing a season-low for points in a half.

Degnan capped a mini 9-4 spurt with a three to give the Saints their biggest lead of the game at 52-39 with 9:12 remaining. Degnan scored 11 of his points in the second half for Siena which shot 52% from the field in the period.

The Saints still led by 10 at 62-52 with 2:58 to play but Harvard, which shot 64% in the second half, rallied with a game-ending 12-5 run. Bassey had a look at a potential game-tying three in the waning seconds for the Crimson, but his shot was off the mark.

The Saints will look to reclaim the Franciscan Cup Wednesday when they travel to Olean for a 7 p.m. battle with sister-school St. Bonaventure.